People always want to know how to get into the video game industry. For starters it isn’t an easy task. I recently went to GDC (Game Developers Conference) in San Francisco. GDC is where developers and industry hopefuls come to share resumes, build teams, and show off new technologies. Companies like Valve, Ubisoft, and others set up their booths and talk to hundreds of people a day who are pandering around for jobs. People bring the portfolios, some of which have taken years to build. They do this all in the hopes that someone, anyone, will give them a job.

Learn to do this!

As a journalist, GDC isn’t exactly where you go to find a job. However it is a great place to make contacts and get to know people in the industry. If anything is certain, it’s who you know. Lots of people get hired at big companies because of the relationships they foster with others in the game industry.

I’m aware that most of the audience for this blog are interested in becoming game journalists. While I’m not a professional yet, I’ve been writing about video games for 3 years now and have built up some good contacts. I’ve been to some offices and freelanced for many websites. The biggest piece of advice I can give you is that you should be writing about video games right now. I don’t care if you are only in high school, I don’t care if you are 12. If you aren’t actively writing news, reviews, and other pieces every day you’re doing it wrong.

An older podcast set-up we used for VGutopia and VGU.TV

Games journalism has also changed in the last few years, being a good writer isn’t enough anymore. You have to have experience in front of the camera, hosting podcasts, interviewing, speaking clearly, and generally being a jack of all trades. Even if you are writing right now I recommend starting or joining a podcast, doing video reviews, learning how to edit video and audio, and becoming acquainted with online marketing.

An Example episode of VGU.TV Gamercast. A podcast I host.

You don’t need to work at a big site in order to write, literally starting a tumblr blog where you review games will suffice. You need to write by any means necessary, start a wordpress blog, write on My IGN, learn about SEO, Start a tumblr, or create your own website. People also need to understand that you wont get a job because you’ve been writing about video games for a month, I’ve been at it for 3 years and I’m still unpaid. Journalist Greg Miller once told me that he applied at IGN 12 times before he finally got in. I only recommend you start writing about video games if it is something you are really hellbent on doing.

It takes a lot of will, it takes a lot of perseverance, and it takes a lot of work. But if you are willing to put in your time, take constructive criticism, hone your skills, and actively learn new skills. If putting in 3 to 5 years of unpaid work doesn’t work for you, then neither is this industry.

I once read an article back when I started writing about games. The author (whom I can’t recall) was answering a question he had been asked more regularly then any other. That question was “How do I become a game journalist?”. his response? Don’t. It took me awhile to really understand what he meant by that, but I think I’ve figured it out. Game Journalists are insane!

The clip above is from a game called Farcry 3 in which the villain tells us the “definition of insanity”. I know it really doesn’t have much to do with what I’m trying to say but hey, it’s a video game blog. Game Journalists, like this psycho above, do pretty much the same thing over and over and over again. We get up and write articles all day about video games. It sounds like a dream job, playing video games for money. I hate to disappoint you but that’s only one small part of it. Sure you get to play a few games and write about them, but a majority of your time is spent playing mediocre games, marketing your content, editing and revising your work, writing breaking news, marketing some more, refining your SEO skills, so on and so forth. You’re not going to walk in on your first day and be given a review copy of Uncharted 4, pat on the back and then told “hey kid go to town.” This business just doesn’t work like that. In fact when you first start out (especially if you write for someone else), you’ll most likely be writing about (and playing) all of the games nobody else wants to do or has time for.

I reviewed the game above (Mount and Blade: Fire and Sword) when I first started it, I despised it. You’ll have to dig your way through all the trash to get to the good stuff. The point is, if you are thinking about getting into this business you have to realize many things.

You have to be content with working your way up

It’s not as fun as you think it is. It’s 95% work, and 5% playing games

You’re going to have to play some really bad games

Competition is fierce, everyone wants your job

Everyone hates your opinion, welcome to the internet

If you are seriously considering becoming a video game journalist, know this. The work is hard, repetitive, and people really dislike you for it. The only people who would ever want to do it are insane. So if someone ever asks me “How do I become a game journalist” I might also reply back with the words “Don’t”. It’s not for everyone, and if you aren’t already writing you are a step behind.